Las Vegas

Discussion
1

I absolutely detest Las Vegas, but I can’t put my finger on it as to why, though. I haven’t been there in at least a year. I used to go quite a bit because my buddy and his wife live there but since I knocked my old lady up and then the boy being been born we haven’t gone.

I first noticed it when I was in college and it’s really the feeling I get out of the place but I can’t really say what it is. The place depresses me like nothing else but it’s not like a normal “depression” It’s just a sad feeling like no other. I don’t gamble, so it’s not like I’m depressed over losing $$ I think I’ve lost maybe 150 bucks over 15 years. Certainly won more than I’ve lost.

Is it the greed? I don’t think so ‘cause you see greed every day and it doesn’t have that kind of impact on me.

Is it the plasticness of it? Again, I don’t think so. You see fakery everyday it doesn’t affect me that way at all.

How about the soullessness of the place? Well, I don’t really believe in a soul so I doubt that’s it.

How about the misery connected with it? I doubt that. Misery is all around every day. I see more homeless people in my hometown than I do in vegas.
What is it about vegas that reminds me of a lonely cheap hotel room that smells of cheap cleaner that has barely gotten out the vomit smell but can do nothing for the smell of old cigarette, stale beer and sadness?
Late,
grmpysmrf

3

Hey smurf, chill out. I happen to have been married there. The chapel of the fountain, in Circus Circus. i know what you mean about Las vegas.The pawnshops. People risking all.Ugly. Kinda like the person who’s stalking me.

4

Vegas is awesome. But it is certainly NOT for everyone. It is for people who can check their left brain at home and operate completely in the fun zone.

If you try to “figure Vegas out” you will lose your mind.

If you think you “have a system” to beat Vegas – It will beat you to death.

If you are looking for meaning, you will leave with a bigger hole in your soul.

If you think you will make money, you will lose everytime and hate yourself.

If you are anti-social, the people will drive you mad.

However, if you, even for one night, want to experience complete sensory overload, have fun with no limits, lose money with no purpose, meet total strangers who become instant friends because they are looking for the same shallow fulfillment, gamble, drink , smoke, swear, dance, and eat all night long, pass out on your hotel floor and wake up at 2PM the next day ready to do it all again . . . . you MIGHT be ready for Vegas.

Vegas has the best hotels in the world (and some of the worst). It also has some of the best restaurants in the world. And, if you’re not a stuffy uptight prude, there is music to enjoy everywhere (great cover bands are all over).

My job is guided by reason and responsibility. My marriage is guided by reason and responsibility. My life is, for the most part, reason and responsibility . . . mortgage, work, traffic, relationships. And when we have our leisure breaks or free time, we are told when it starts and when it finishes. Screw that.

There’s no rationale for Vegas. It’s pure escapism. It’s like explaining why I still like, at 37, going in the mosh pit at a metal show. Because in Vegas I live in the moment and am always doing exactly what I want exactly when I want to. I gamble for 12 hours straight. I have steak at 4 in the morning. I ride mechanical bulls and sing karaoke.

I love everything about Vegas. The plastic, the superficiality, the hookers (no, I do not use their services), the pawn shops . . . it’s all part of a wonderful atmosphere that allows people to go “all in” (whatever that means to the individual) and fulfill their most base desires, and do it at the snap of a finger.

It helps that I’m a degenerate gambler, but there is no place like Vegas to do it.

5

When you can gamble all night long and then tell the waitress, “Bring me the gayest drink ever . . .” and they do, you know you’re somewhere special.

6

Hey smurf, chill out. I happen to have been married there.

Yeah, me too. Not circus circus, but a one of the many little wedding chapels around.

I can go there and even spend a couple of days but I am certainly GLAD beyond belief to get home.
Late,
grmpysmrf

7

Vegas is awesome. But it is certainly NOT for everyone. It is for people who can check their left brain at home and operate completely in the fun zone.

If you try to “figure Vegas out” you will lose your mind.

If you think you “have a system” to beat Vegas – It will beat you to death.

If you are looking for meaning, you will leave with a bigger hole in your soul.

If you think you will make money, you will lose everytime and hate yourself.

If you are anti-social, the people will drive you mad.

However, if you, even for one night, want to experience complete sensory overload, have fun with no limits, lose money with no purpose, meet total strangers who become instant friends because they are looking for the same shallow fulfillment, gamble, drink , smoke, swear, dance, and eat all night long, pass out on your hotel floor and wake up at 2PM the next day ready to do it all again . . . . you MIGHT be ready for Vegas.

Vegas has the best hotels in the world (and some of the worst). It also has some of the best restaurants in the world. And, if you’re not a stuffy uptight prude, there is music to enjoy everywhere (great cover bands are all over).

My job is guided by reason and responsibility. My marriage is guided by reason and responsibility. My life is, for the most part, reason and responsibility . . . mortgage, work, traffic, relationships. And when we have our leisure breaks or free time, we are told when it starts and when it finishes. Screw that.

There’s no rationale for Vegas. It’s pure escapism. It’s like explaining why I still like, at 37, going in the mosh pit at a metal show. Because in Vegas I live in the moment and am always doing exactly what I want exactly when I want to. I gamble for 12 hours straight. I have steak at 4 in the morning. I ride mechanical bulls and sing karaoke.

I love everything about Vegas. The plastic, the superficiality, the hookers (no, I do not use their services), the pawn shops . . . it’s all part of a wonderful atmosphere that allows people to go “all in” (whatever that means to the individual) and fulfill their most base desires, and do it at the snap of a finger.

It helps that I’m a degenerate gambler, but there is no place like Vegas to do it.

Yeah, the town reeks of all of that. It’s completely selfish, but there is something more to it.
Late,
grmpysmrf

8

Quick survey? Who all was married in Las Vegas who posts here.My own wedding site was selected because it was the only chapel inside of a casino.We took our chances seriously.And the fountain inside of the Chapel of the Fountain was basically a waterhose connected to a tiny basin.

9

I’ve always enjoyed my trips to Vegas which I suppose must number somewhere around 20 or so at this point. I’ve never been there with gambling specifically in mind, not that I don’t enjoy gambling…because I do…as anyone in my monthly poker game will attest.

I was witness to Al sticking a nickel into a row of slot machines once. Must’ve been at least 20 machines and then watched him walk down the row and pull each handle. I don’t think he hit any winners. Oh and on the same stay, I got a knock on the door around 4 in the morning and Brad Hallen stuck about $100 in my face, paying off a debt.

But Vegas is fine. It’s a nice escape.

10

Quick survey? Who all was married in Las Vegas who posts here.

Cate & I were married at Holy Name Cathedral, but my brother Jeff and his wife were married in Vegas.

11

I go about 10 times a year. Most recently was about 3 weeks ago for a trade convention. Of the 6 nights I was there I think I got a combined total of maybe 8 hours. I typically would come back to my hotel at about 7AM and get an hour of sleep before heading back to Sands Convention Center.

12

I’m going in June for my sister’s (second) wedding.
I intend to approach the whole thing in the spirit of camp.

13

I love Las Vegas. I go once or twice per year and have driven all over the city where most of the tourists do not go.
My younger sister was married at Excalibur’s wedding chapel and my best friend was married at the Venetian, St. Mark’s Square on 666. Ha!

14

rev skarekroe, don’t you mean in the spirit of cramp? weddings are dizzying spectacles. be brave.

15

nice shot of gunnar. still hoping this stalker gets off my back.really people. don’t need this.had a bunch of stalker types a while back. not fun.

17

I got married in a yard in Florida. It was a bit hot and sweaty.

nobody asked about the honeymoon. [:)] ba doom ching!
Late,
grmpysmrf

18

And the fountain inside of the Chapel… the Fountain was basically a waterhose connected to a tiny basin.

This may be the best way to describe Vegas.
Late,
grmpysmrf

19

Roland , Paul’s brother was best man. Michael Short who was the chef at the Star Top in Chicago was in attendance with his girl Ellen Morgan Fairey.Michael was Ursula’s godfather. A title he was always happy to exploit. His passing was hard for me and Paul. We had an excellent time in Las Vegas. Getting shitfaced by the hotel pool.Getting sprayed by the constant misting.

20

Gerda, is Roland still living out in Hawaii? If I recall rightly he has an organic farm there.

I’ve only been to Las Vegas once, but it was very memorable. My trip happened to fall on a St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and we won enough money then to pay for pretty much everything we did so it worked out nicely.

21

Roland lives on Kauai, only the most beautiful of the islands.In a house which is a family homestead. He does a lot of work for Paul.

22

Very cool Gerda, and it is nice to know Roland and Paul still do work together.

If you have not seen these before photographer Mike Leach on his website has some great photos of some Blackouts shows in Seattle.

http://bestrockphotos.com/gallery/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=298